We Will Pursue Our Justice

The State Department's attitude towards Israel, and to be specific, its presence in Judea and Samaria is so wrongheaded. At a daily press briefing last Tuesday at the Department of State, spokesperson McCormack, in one of his responses, said of the meeting between Secretary Rice and Israel's Defense Minister Barak

I can tell you what the intent and the thinking behind the meeting was – is that – to talk about issues related to the Roadmap, Roadmap implementation...also talk about what the Palestinians need to do.

Did you notice that: also talk about what the Palestinians need to do.

an American-led mission, based in Jerusalem, that is trying to build new security forces on the West Bank that will support stabilization efforts by the Palestinian Authority’s president...The importance of this effort cannot be overstated: unless there are effective Palestinian security forces, Israel will never trust in a Palestinian state or be able to act on the quiet progress being made toward reaching a final settlement...As became all too clear on my visit to Israel, however, this American-led effort is being crippled by decisions within the State Department. The small mission, called the office of the United States Security Coordinator and under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, is effectively locked into a building in Jerusalem. While it’s a military mission, the State Department and the consulate in Jerusalem are in charge of Palestinian affairs and General Dayton’s advisory teams.

I don't believe that the Americans can adequately train so-called "Palestinian polciemen" and thus, they cannot assure Israel's security. But more importantly, does any oversight mechanism - Congressional, Presidential or independent - exist that investigates the workings of this special mission, supported and managed by CIVPOL and referred to as a "Transformation Program". Is it successful? A failure? Is all in order? What specific problems exist?

They, as well as diplomats at the American Consulate General, are directly responsible for my security, that of my family and friends all across Yesha and also Israel. And, if they truly think they can make sure that the PA's "policemen" can do a proper job, can I suggest they speed things up for, in case they are not aware, Hamas is threatening to take over the PA in Judea and Samaria.

If they fail, they need know that the blame is not solely that of the State Department and their employers but they, too, share that blame. They are supposedly professionals and if they become aware that it their task is one that cannot be accomplished, then they too will face legal steps among others.

Israel and its citizens are not far-away East Timor or Iraq or Kosovo. There are options open to us and we will be aggressive in our own pursuit of justice.